Pam and Echo
Good things come to those who wait is an expression applicable to me and Echo.
As a teenager I had grandiose dreams of owning a horse, which in hindsight, I can clearly see my parents were wise not to pursue. We did not have a clue as to what to do. However, the seed had been sown; remaining dormant for quite awhile as life took me in non horse directions.
After turning forty and my mum passing away shortly after; I took stock of my life dreams. Realising learning to ride properly was a goal I would regret not doing I set about trying to find riding schools, horses and instructors I could learn upon and from. I found several over six years with mixed results; to the point where I stopped riding with my confidence lost.
Although frustrated at this stage, two important realisations were clear. First, if I wanted a true partnership with the horse then I had to seriously consider getting my own and rebuilding the foundations from the ground up (brick by brick approach). Second, there had to be a better way of working and riding with horses.
I applaud all riding horses that put all with us humans day after day banging down on their backs or jerking back on their mouths and simply did not feel good about using the crop or whip to make them move forward, when they would not. I know I was doing something wrong and was not able to find the way to right it.
Fortunately, a friend I met at one of the above riding schools had found a person whose philosophy and way of working with horses was one that strongly resonated with me. In 2007, I started doing groundwork sessions with Carlos Tabernaberri at Whispering Acres. I fence sat one of Carlos’s clinics in July or August that year and had an OMG moment upon hearing that a stallion would be doing the clinic. That stallion was Nimrod and he gave me another OMG moment that I tucked away for future reference. I was in awe of Nimrod who throughout the day let the mares know he was around, though still calmly went about his work when asked. By day’s end I was simply impressed with the Morgan breed and temperament and with Judy, who was pursuing her dream notwithstanding health issues.
I meet Judy two or three times more over the next three years at Carlos’s (another clinic this time with Folie and the wow Morgan factor hit again). Come 2010, I was ready to make the commitment and take action to acquire my own horse. Many horses come to Carlos and my plan was to acquire one that he worked and said would be suitable for me (and was for sale). Whilst, several came through, unfortunately several equally valid reasons made them unsuitable for me.
Then in December, Carlos, having just done a clinic up at Samaria said he had seen a two year filly at Judy’s farm that he was impressed with (Zaeeda). Now Carlos had spoken about starting out with a young horse before although I was keen to get an older horse who I could ride after working with Carlos. I had no desire or need to prove myself with a 16 hand plus Warmblood or the like and started my research into Morgans again. Boy, did the light bulb go off or what. After re-evaluating my plan in January, I thought there would be no harm in going for a look (dangerous yes, harm no).
As it turned out the two year old filly was sold by then but that was okay as I really wanted a gelding. On Saturday 20 January, 2011, I went up to Samaria and met with Judy, Miles and the Morgan herd. Judy took me up to the pines paddock where the mares, weanlings and Nimrod were, I also met some two year olds in the windmill paddock and then I played with the yearlings Corona, Top Mark and Echo in the round yard. I was not really sure which one was which but one in particular kept coming over and wanted to be with me and I was wrapped when Judy said it was Echo, as he had caught my eye.
Echo had originally been sold as a weanling but due to change of circumstances for the owner, he was to be sold again. I came up again in February for a second visit and stayed to join Judy and clients John and Ros Goodwin who the next day were going to visit three other Morgan farms. It was an opportunity for me to see and compare other Morgans and breeder arrangements, which as it turned out were all different though they all shared a passion for their Morgans.
In the end it really helped firm up my decision that Echo was the right horse for me. On balance, I think Judy’s overall package is providing Echo the soundest start in life and the facilities at Samaria are great. So much so, that I will keep agisting Echo at Samaria until he starts under saddle with Carlos.
I consider Echo and I are on a journey of discovery, of each other and what we both can be individually and together. My goals with Echo are to form a true partnership and be the best that we can be. I feel privileged that Echo is with me and we are learning and having fun together.
The future is exciting and the possibilities are truly endless and rewarding.
In taking a line from a Tina Arena song I am currently listening too, I will spend my lifetime loving Echo.
As a teenager I had grandiose dreams of owning a horse, which in hindsight, I can clearly see my parents were wise not to pursue. We did not have a clue as to what to do. However, the seed had been sown; remaining dormant for quite awhile as life took me in non horse directions.
After turning forty and my mum passing away shortly after; I took stock of my life dreams. Realising learning to ride properly was a goal I would regret not doing I set about trying to find riding schools, horses and instructors I could learn upon and from. I found several over six years with mixed results; to the point where I stopped riding with my confidence lost.
Although frustrated at this stage, two important realisations were clear. First, if I wanted a true partnership with the horse then I had to seriously consider getting my own and rebuilding the foundations from the ground up (brick by brick approach). Second, there had to be a better way of working and riding with horses.
I applaud all riding horses that put all with us humans day after day banging down on their backs or jerking back on their mouths and simply did not feel good about using the crop or whip to make them move forward, when they would not. I know I was doing something wrong and was not able to find the way to right it.
Fortunately, a friend I met at one of the above riding schools had found a person whose philosophy and way of working with horses was one that strongly resonated with me. In 2007, I started doing groundwork sessions with Carlos Tabernaberri at Whispering Acres. I fence sat one of Carlos’s clinics in July or August that year and had an OMG moment upon hearing that a stallion would be doing the clinic. That stallion was Nimrod and he gave me another OMG moment that I tucked away for future reference. I was in awe of Nimrod who throughout the day let the mares know he was around, though still calmly went about his work when asked. By day’s end I was simply impressed with the Morgan breed and temperament and with Judy, who was pursuing her dream notwithstanding health issues.
I meet Judy two or three times more over the next three years at Carlos’s (another clinic this time with Folie and the wow Morgan factor hit again). Come 2010, I was ready to make the commitment and take action to acquire my own horse. Many horses come to Carlos and my plan was to acquire one that he worked and said would be suitable for me (and was for sale). Whilst, several came through, unfortunately several equally valid reasons made them unsuitable for me.
Then in December, Carlos, having just done a clinic up at Samaria said he had seen a two year filly at Judy’s farm that he was impressed with (Zaeeda). Now Carlos had spoken about starting out with a young horse before although I was keen to get an older horse who I could ride after working with Carlos. I had no desire or need to prove myself with a 16 hand plus Warmblood or the like and started my research into Morgans again. Boy, did the light bulb go off or what. After re-evaluating my plan in January, I thought there would be no harm in going for a look (dangerous yes, harm no).
As it turned out the two year old filly was sold by then but that was okay as I really wanted a gelding. On Saturday 20 January, 2011, I went up to Samaria and met with Judy, Miles and the Morgan herd. Judy took me up to the pines paddock where the mares, weanlings and Nimrod were, I also met some two year olds in the windmill paddock and then I played with the yearlings Corona, Top Mark and Echo in the round yard. I was not really sure which one was which but one in particular kept coming over and wanted to be with me and I was wrapped when Judy said it was Echo, as he had caught my eye.
Echo had originally been sold as a weanling but due to change of circumstances for the owner, he was to be sold again. I came up again in February for a second visit and stayed to join Judy and clients John and Ros Goodwin who the next day were going to visit three other Morgan farms. It was an opportunity for me to see and compare other Morgans and breeder arrangements, which as it turned out were all different though they all shared a passion for their Morgans.
In the end it really helped firm up my decision that Echo was the right horse for me. On balance, I think Judy’s overall package is providing Echo the soundest start in life and the facilities at Samaria are great. So much so, that I will keep agisting Echo at Samaria until he starts under saddle with Carlos.
I consider Echo and I are on a journey of discovery, of each other and what we both can be individually and together. My goals with Echo are to form a true partnership and be the best that we can be. I feel privileged that Echo is with me and we are learning and having fun together.
The future is exciting and the possibilities are truly endless and rewarding.
In taking a line from a Tina Arena song I am currently listening too, I will spend my lifetime loving Echo.
©2013 Samaria Creek Morgan Horses. All Rights Reserved.
